Arcadia Brewing - IPA

Tonight I'll be drinking an IPA from Arcadia Brewing Company based in Battle Creek, Michigan.  Arcadia brews aren't available in the Twin Cities...this is part of a mixed 6-pack my Uncle Mike brought up from Kansas City a couple weeks ago - thanks for the brews old man!  Arcadia was established back in 1996, and specializes in British-style brews.  They brew with original british equipment - a 25 barrel 'Peter Austin' brewing system - and (mostly) English ingredients.  This IPA is 6% alcohol, and follows more of the english version of the style with only 41 IBUs.

The beer is a hazy, dirty brown-orange color with plenty of sediment visible and some egg-white foam that recedes quickly and doesn't leave much lace behind.  The aroma brings loads of sweet bready malts, along with some nice florals and barely-ripe peaches.  Also a bit of grape sourness.  The taste starts off with bitter-sweet, honey covered grapefruit.  Decent amount of spiciness comes in immediately after that first confusing wave of flavor, and cleans things up.  In the background is a fervent herbal grassiness that hangs out with the earthy english malt base.  The alcohol comes through, a little bit astringent.  This astringency isn't overwhelming, but it does linger a bit in the finish.

Overall Rating:  This IPA is definitely unique...can't say I've ever had anything quite like it.  It doesn't follow the beaten path of most craft IPAs these days.  Refreshing, I enjoyed it, despite the slight twinge of alcohol bite.  B

Magic Hat - Blind Faith IPA

Tonight I'll be going on tour with Magic Hat's IPA on Tour series.  This installment is the summer edition - Blind Faith.  This is an English-influenced IPA that is brewed with english ale yeast and Apollo + Cascade hops.  Registering at 6.2%ABV and 60 IBUs, this looks like more of a hybrid english/american IPA on paper.

This beer comes in a 12oz bottle that I bought as a single - their label drew me in and caught my interest right away in a sea of singles, mainly because it was kind of mysterious.  We know it's an IPA....but we want to know more!

The beer is a clear, pure copper color with a half finger of white head that recedes quickly.  Nose is sweet and malty, with a mild hop background that is lightly fruity, soft citrus hints.  Taste starts off lightly hoppy with some grapefruits and pineapple, followed quickly by a buttery bready malts.  This beer is more malt-forward than I expected.  Also was expecting more of the subdued english hop flavors, but what I got was more of an american hop profile.  Medium body with a lower carbonation that gives it a smooth mouthfeel.

Overall Rating:  This was a light, malty IPA that was drinkable, but didn't stand out in any way.  I won't go out of my way to find more, but it's worth a try if you can find a bottle - limited release so if you want it, go pick one up soon. 

Left Hand - 400 Pound Monkey English IPA

This evening I am going with an English IPA from Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont, CO.  Awesome name, and even better label design!  The label shows an 8 armed monkey (10 if you count the legs), with little army monkeys around him holding hops and barley.  This was bottled on 9/1/10.

The beer pours a clear light orange color with a thin layer of head that forms slowly and recedes quickly.  Faint grapefruits and toffee malts in the nose.  The flavor starts out with an interesting pine/lime combo - very hop forward to start but not overly bitter.  A burnt sweet banana bread, and biscuits, make up a malty backbone that reminds me of an ESB, it goes nicely with the initial hop flavors.  The finish is a 50/50 combo of the hop/malt flavors, keeping things simple and complementary.  The carbonation is just right, and the texture is creamy throughout.


Overall Rating:  (4.5 out of 6.0)  This beer was a simple showcase of the English IPA style.  No noticeable off-flavors, and it was an easy-drinker that went down smooth from start to finish.  If you like the style, give this Left Hand brew a try.